GMHBA recognised for excellence

GMHBA has been deeply embedded in the Geelong community for more than 90 years.

Rising from humble beginnings, the private healthcare organisation got its start in 1934, when a group of workers from the Australian Cement Company banded together to develop a health insurance scheme to ensure a sustainable quality of life for their families if they became injured or sick.

It’s a “thread of care for people and the community”, chief executive David Greig said, that still runs through the organisation today.

GMHBA now provides health insurance to 370,000 people across the country and operates a network of GPs, dentists, physiotherapists and optometrists.

In the past four years, the organisation has grown its sales by 32 per cent, increased its employee engagement by 11 per cent and maintained a complaints rate less than half that of its competitors.

Building on this success, the organisation has this year been named a finalist in the Geelong Business Excellence Awards, sponsored by LBW Business + Wealth Advisors.

A first-time entrant, GMHBA has also been shortlisted for the prestigious Business of the Year Award.

“We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved, and we’re delighted to celebrate that,” Mr Greig said.

“As a leading organisation in the region, we feel it’s really important to support the business community, and so part of our participation [in the awards] is actually just being part of the celebration of the great organisations that we have in Geelong.”

GMHBA’s success in what is a mature and competitive industry, he said, comes down to the organisation’s culture, its dedicated workforce and its care for the community.

“It goes back to where we started,” Mr Greig said. “GMHBA has always been an organisation that’s deeply passionate about its customers, its people and the community.

“That’s what makes GMBHA a remarkable place to work, and it attracts remarkable people — and when you’ve got great people in a great organisation, you’re able to achieve amazing things.”

The winners of this year’s GBEAs will be crowned at a presentation event at Geelong Arts Centre on October 30. For tickets, head to gbea.com.au